Tag Archives: NBA

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States, and its international popularity is growing, as well. While NCAA basketball remains popular, nothing beats the intense action of the pros in the NBA. But what happens if you don’t have cable? Can you watch NBA without cable TV?

You sure can! It’s now easier than ever to watch NBA games without cable. In the guide below, we’ll explore how you can get an NBA live stream from home without spending a fortune on cable.

Channels You Need to Watch NBA Games Without Cable

NBA coverage is shared by several different channels. This season, coverage is split between:

You will want to have access to all or most of these channels in order to keep up with your favorite basketball teams. But don’t worry – we’ll explain how to get these channels in this guide!

How to Watch NBA Without Cable: At a Glance

For sports fans who have cut the cord, there are a couple different ways to watch NBA online without cable TV. Keep in mind that these are all paid options – there’s no legal way to watch NBA online for free, unfortunately. Here are our top recommendations:

Hulu with Live TV offers a great way to stream NBA without cable and enjoy 50+ other great channels. You’ll get ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, regional sports networks, and much more. If you’re looking for a full cable replacement, this is your best bet. There’s a free 7-day trial available.

NBA League Pass is a good way to watch NBA games without cable if you’re not looking for other TV programming. It’s solely for NBA games, and it has some significant restrictions for local games. Many games are blacked out for live viewing, but replays can be viewed after. We’ll explain more in the guide below.

Using Live Streaming Services to Watch NBA Online

If you’re new to the world of cable-free viewing options, you may be unsure of your options. If you’re looking for a complete cable TV alternative, a good option is to get a live TV streaming service.

These services, such as Hulu with Live TV and Sling TV, offer a package of TV channels to watch live. You’ll get a broad selection of networks, covering everything from sports to news to entertainment. You can get anywhere from 25 to 100+ channels, depending on which package you choose. Essentially, they function a lot like a cable package.

The difference? Price, and flexibility.

Sling TV starts as low as $25 a month, while Hulu Live TV is only $40 a month. With the typical cable bill now running $107 a month, that’s a huge cost savings!

Flexibility is also a big plus. These services are contract-free, so you are able to cancel at any time without penalty.

These streaming options work over the internet. You will need a solid internet connection in order to use them. You will also need a compatible device, such as a Roku or Apple TV.

Once you’re signed up for a service, watching NBA online is as easy as tuning in at game time. You can watch from many of your favorite devices, including streaming players connected to your TV, smartphones, tablets, computers and more!

Keep reading for the specific services we recommend for online NBA streaming.

Use Hulu with Live TV to Watch NBA Without Cable TV

One of the best methods to get an NBA live stream without cable is to use Hulu with Live TV. It supplies all the channels you’ll need for NBA (excluding NBA TV), and offers some of the best coverage of local teams and local sports networks.

Hulu Live TV is an affordable cable TV alternative that gives you over 50 great channels to watch live. It’s easy to use, works on most devices, and is far cheaper than many alternatives. Here’s the scoop:

Hulu with Live TV comes highly recommended because it’s a one-stop-shop for all your entertainment. The 50+ channels cover almost everything you’ll need (although NBA TV is missing), and the on-demand library means that you’ll always have something to watch. Note that if you want NBA TV as well, you might consider Sling TV as an alternative.

Using NBA League Pass for Game Replays

NBA League Pass is the official streaming service of the NBA. Unlike the other options we’ve discussed, NBA League Pass is only useful for watching NBA without cable. You won’t get any other entertainment options – it’s strictly NBA.

To add to that, League Pass comes with severe blackouts for local teams. Basically, you can’t watch your local NBA team(s) on League Pass because they will be blacked out. You also can’t watch any nationally broadcast games. Thus, the service is most useful for fans who don’t live near their favorite teams – a Lakers fan living in Denver, for example. Learn more about how blackouts work on NBA League Pass here.

With all that said, if you don’t mind the wait, you can watch replays of all games shortly after they air – even for local teams. Here’s the scoop:

Best for hardcore NBA fans – ideally those who don’t live near their favorite teams

Basically, we recommend League Pass for two types of people: NBA fans that live far away from their favorite teams, and NBA fans that don’t mind waiting for replays after the game. Beyond these groups, the blackouts make it difficult to fully utilize this service.

But for some people, League Pass represents a good way to watch basketball without cable TV. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but for hardcore fans the special features and ability to watch out-of-market teams may be worthwhile.

Other Options for Watching NBA Without Cable

There are other ways to stream NBA without a cable subscription. Hulu Live TV and League Pass are our two top recommendations, but here are some others to consider.

There are several services that are similar to Hulu Live TV that you can utilize. These include:

Each of these services functions in a similar way to Hulu with Live TV, but may offer a different selection of channels to utilize.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it – the best ways to get an NBA live stream without cable. We hope this guide was helpful. Do note that there is no real way to watch NBA online free, although you can watch a couple highlights on the league’s website.

Watch the NBA Playoffs: Warriors vs. Cavs – No Cable Bill Needed

The end is near. Not of the world (although it might feel that way if you live in Cleveland) but rather the end of the NBA 2016/17 season. Against all odds, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are facing off once again in the seven-game series we like to call the NBA Finals.

Last year when our two prospective champions met in the finals, the Warriors blew a three-game lead and suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Cavaliers. Needless to say, the Warriors will be out for blood this time; but will they succeed? Will the sweep?

Watching the Finals without Cable

If you’ve just cut the cord or are thinking about cutting the cord, you’re probably feeling pangs of anxiety; wondering how to watch the remainder of the NBA Finals without having that comforting cable box.

But my friends, let not your heart be troubled because there is more than one way to watch the NBA Finals without cable; and it’s a lot easier than you think.

NBA TV Schedule

First, let’s take a look at the broadcast schedule (All on ABC)…

Game 1 – Thurs. June 1: Cleveland at Golden State, 9:00 PM

WINNER: GSW 113 – 91

Game 2 – Sun. June 4: Cleveland at Golden State, 8:00 PM

WINNER: GSW 132 – 113

Game 3 – Wed. June 7: Golden State at Cleveland, 9:00 PM

Game 4 – Fri. June 9: Golden State at Cleveland, 9:00 PM

Game 5 * Mon. June 12: Cleveland at Golden State, 9:00 PM

Game 6 * Thu. June 15: Golden State at Cleveland, 9:00 PM

Game 7 * Sun. June 18: Cleveland at Golden State, 8:00 PM *If needed

If you take a look at the broadcast schedule for the NBA Finals, you might notice that (mercifully) every game is set to air on one channel: ABC. That’s good news because that means the only thing you REALLY need to watch the NBA Finals without cable is an over-the-air (OTA) antenna.

Watching the Finals for Free

An OTA antenna is more or less the modern version of the old television antennas that many of us grew up with. Gone are the temperamental and clunky rabbit ears of yesteryear; and in its place is a small, relatively cheap, and dependable device that gives us access to all of the local broadcast networks in 1080i HD (including ABC).

Aside from the initial cost, there are no monthly fees or subscriptions required. All you have to do is hook it up to your TV and you’re done. Better yet, once the NBA Finals are over, you’ll still have access to all of your favorite broadcast networks and thousands of hours of free HD television. I call that a win-win.

If you don’t have time to get an antenna, or for some reason, your local electronics store doesn’t have one, there is a second option…

Live Streaming the NBA Finals

Three live television streaming services can give you access to ABC during the NBA Finals. Those services are Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and DIRECTV NOW (Free Trial, Overview Article). Each service will give you live streaming access to OTA networks (ABC included), provided you live in certain major cities, like Chicago or New York.

However, regardless of your location, a subscription to any one of these three services will give you access to the app WatchESPN; which allows for live streaming of ABC sporting events, including the NBA Finals.

To login in to WatchESPN, all you need is your login credentials from one of the three aforementioned services and you’re good to go.

What are your predictions for the rest of the NBA Finals? Will the Warriors sweep the Cavs (my money is on YES)? Let us know in the comments below or sound off on social media!

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How to Watch 2017 NBA Finals Online & with an Antenna

Do you love the NBA but hate cable television? Would you like to know how to watch the NBA playoffs without cable? Then stick around, because that’s exactly what we’re going to be discussing today.

Isn’t it funny how time catches up on you? It only seems like yesterday that the Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the NBA championships. But nearly a year later, here we are again eagerly awaiting the start of the 2017 NBA playoffs.

Like most sport events these days, it’s incredibly easy to tune in to the NBA playoffs without a costly cable subscription. That is, as long as you know where to go, and what to do.

To begin lets take a look at the channels you’ll need to catch all the action.The NBA playoffs will air on these six channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, TNT, and NBA TV.

NBA Playoffs with Sling TV and an OTA Antenna

The NBA Conference Finals are in full swing, and like millions of other Americans, I could not be more excited. Making it to the finals are four exceptional teams: The Cleveland Cavaliers, The Golden State Warriors, the Toronto Raptors, and The Oklahoma City Thunder. If you don’t want to spend a single dollar on cable, but you also don’t want to miss a single minute of the action, then I’ve got good news.

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Watch NBA Online and Over-the-Air

The 2016-17 NBA Season is in full swing and for cord cutting basketball fans it feels like a new day. Despite setbacks in recent years, it has now never been easier for someone to watch basketball without cable; and as time goes on the options keep on getting better.

Today we’re going to talk about some of the cable-free ways to watch basketball so that you can kill the cable bill without losing your favorite sports.